Tissue puncture closure device with automatic torque sensing tamping system

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug are disclosed. The methods and apparatus provide for automatic tamping of the sealing plug. In addition, torque required to tamp the sealing plug is automatically sensed and gear ratios of an automatic tamping device are automatically changed in response to sensed changes in torque. A planetary transmission may be used to automatically change gear ratios in response to the changes in torque.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/179,306filed on 8 Jul. 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,465,518, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/824,255, filed on 29Jun. 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,706, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/103,196, filed on 11 Apr. 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,250,057, the disclosures of which are incorporated in theirentireties by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to medical devices and moreparticularly to devices for sealing punctures or incisions in a tissuewall.

BACKGROUND

Various surgical procedures are routinely carried out intravascularly orintraluminally. For example, in the treatment of vascular disease, suchas arteriosclerosis, it is a common practice to invade the artery andinsert an instrument (e.g., a balloon or other type of catheter) tocarry out a procedure within the artery. Such procedures usually involvethe percutaneous puncture of the artery so that an insertion sheath canbe placed in the artery and thereafter instruments (e.g., catheter) canpass through the sheath and to an operative position within the artery.Intravascular and intraluminal procedures unavoidably present theproblem of stopping the bleeding at the percutaneous puncture after theprocedure has been completed and after the instruments (and anyinsertion sheaths used therewith) have been removed. Bleeding frompuncture sites, particularly in the case of femoral arterial punctures,is typically stopped by utilizing vascular closure devices, such asthose described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,090,130 and 6,045,569 and relatedpatents that are hereby incorporated by reference.

Typical closure devices such as the ones described in theabove-mentioned patents place a sealing plug at the tissue puncturesite. Successful deployment of the sealing plug, however, requires thatit be manually ejected from within a device sheath and tamped down to anouter surface of the tissue puncture using a tamping tube. The tampingprocedure cannot commence until the device sheath (within which thetamping tube is located) has been removed so as to expose the tampingtube for manual grasping. Under certain conditions, removal of thesheath prior to tamping the sealing plug may cause the sealing plugitself to be retracted from the tissue puncture, hindering subsequentplacement of the sealing plug, and resulting in only a partial seal andassociated late bleeding from the tissue puncture. Accordingly, there isa need for improving the mechanism for deployment of the sealing plug atthe site of a tissue puncture.

SUMMARY

The present invention meets the above-described needs and others.Specifically, the present invention provides methods and systems forclosing internal tissue punctures. However, unlike prior systems, thepresent invention provides automatic tamping to a sealing plug as theclosure device is retracted. In addition, the present invention allowsthe automatic tamping system to sense torque and change gear ratio when,for example, the sealing plug is passing through a small tip or otheroutlet.

In one of many possible embodiments, the present invention provides atissue puncture closure device for partial insertion into and sealing ofan internal tissue wall puncture. The device comprises a filamentextending from a first end of the closure device to a second end of theclosure device, an anchor for insertion through the tissue wall punctureattached to the filament at the second end of the closure device, asealing plug slidingly attached to the filament adjacent to the anchor,and a tamping assembly comprising an automatic gear ratio changingtransmission. The automatic gear ratio changing transmission is capableof automatically changing gear ratios in response to changes in torque.The tamping assembly may include a tamping tube operatively connected tothe automatic gear ratio changing transmission.

The automatic gear ratio changing transmission may comprise a planetarygearset. The automatic gear ratio changing transmission may alsocomprise an input gear and an output gear coupled to the planetarygearset. The planetary gearset may comprise a ring gear, a sun gear, atleast two planet gears, and a planet carrier. The input gear may becoaxially attached to a spool with a portion of the filament woundthereon, the input gear meshed with the ring gear, and the output gearmeshed with the planet carrier and the tamping tube. The spool mayrotate and drive the input gear in a first direction, and the outputgear may drive the tamping tube in a second direction, when the anchoris deployed and the closure device is retracted from the tissue wallpuncture. The planetary gearset may include a clutch having apredetermined torque breakdown value locking the ring gear to the planetcarrier. The planetary gearset may provide a torque multiplying ratiobetween 1:1 to 1:2 upon reaching the predetermined torque breakdownvalue of the clutch.

According to some embodiments the tamping tube is driven by theautomatic gear ratio changing transmission to tamp the sealing plug,where the automatic gear ratio changing transmission comprises atransducer for effecting a distal force on the sealing plug uponwithdrawal of the closure device from the tissue wall puncture.

Another aspect of the invention provides a tissue puncture closuredevice for partial insertion into and sealing of a tissue puncture in aninternal tissue wall accessible through a percutaneous incision. Thedevice comprises an anchor for disposition on a distal side of theinternal tissue wall, a sealing plug for disposition on a proximal sideof the internal tissue wall, a filament connected between the anchor andthe sealing plug, and a torque sensing, torque multiplying transmissionfor automatically tamping the sealing plug along the filament distallytowards the anchor. The device may further comprise a tamping deviceoperatively connected to the torque sensing, torque multiplyingtransmission. The torque sensing, torque multiplying transmission maycomprise a storage spool onto which a proximal end of the filament iswound, an input gear connected to storage spool, the input gear andstorage spool being coaxial, and a planetary gearset engaged with theinput gear. An output gear may be engaged with the planetary gearset andthe tamping device. Withdrawal of the closure device from the tissuepuncture with the anchor bearing against the internal tissue wall mayunwind the filament from the storage spool and actuate the input gear.The input gear may drive the planetary gearset, and the planetarygearset may directly or indirectly provide a tamping force to thetamping device.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a tissue puncture closuredevice for partial insertion into and sealing of a tissue puncture. Thedevice includes an anchor for insertion through the tissue puncture, afilament extending from a handle to the anchor, a sealing plug slidinglyattached to the filament adjacent to the anchor, and a tamping assemblyfor driving the sealing plug toward the anchor. The tamping assemblycomprises a planetary transmission. The tamping assembly may furthercomprise a tamping tube slidingly disposed on the filament andoperatively connected to the planetary transmission. The planetarytransmission is preferably automatically actuated by retraction of thetissue puncture closure device from the tissue puncture to drive thetamping tube toward the sealing plug.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of sealing a tissuepuncture in an internal tissue wall accessible through a percutaneousincision. The method includes withdrawing a closure device from thetissue puncture, automatically transducing a motive force generated bywithdrawal of the closure device in a first direction to a tamping forcein a second direction with gears, and automatically changing a gearratio of the gears in response to changes in torque generated by themotive force. The method may further comprise applying the tamping forcein the second direction to a sealing plug. The method may includetransferring the motive force to a tamping device that is slidinglydisposed about a filament, the filament being connected to the sealingplug. The transferring may further comprise automatically unwinding thefilament from a spool by deploying an anchor attached to the filamentinside the tissue puncture, and withdrawing the closure device from thetissue puncture. According to some aspects, the gears comprise an inputgear, a planetary gearset meshed with the input gear, and an output gearmeshed with the planetary gearset. The transferring may thus comprisedriving the input gear with the spool via the unwinding, driving theplanetary gearset with the input gear, driving the output gear with theplanetary gearset, and driving a tamping device with the output gear.The automatically changing the gear ratio may comprise automaticallyclutching a planetary gearset between two or more fixed relationships.For example, automatically releasing a clutch fixing a ring gear withrespect to a planetary carrier of a planetary gearset at a predeterminedtorque level.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of sealing a tissuepuncture in an internal tissue wall accessible through a percutaneousincision. The method comprises providing a tissue puncture closuredevice having a carrier tube, a filament extending through the carriertube to an anchor and to a sealing plug located proximal of the anchorfor disposition and anchoring about the tissue puncture, the tissuepuncture closure device also comprising an automatic tamping device. Themethod also includes inserting the tissue puncture closure device intothe percutaneous incision, deploying an anchor of the closure device inthe tissue puncture, at least partially withdrawing the closure devicefrom the percutaneous incision, forcing a sealing plug of the closuredevice through an outlet of a carrier tube, automatically sensing torquerequired by the automatic tamping device to force the sealing plugdistally, and automatically changing a gear ratio of the automatictamping device in response to sensed torque. The automatically sensingtorque may comprise presetting a clutch with a predetermined torquebreakdown value. The automatically changing a gear ratio may alsocomprises providing a planetary gearset capable of changing gear ratioin response to changes in torque. The automatically sensing torque andchanging a gear ratio may comprise unwinding a filament from a spool ofthe automatic tamping device by the withdrawing of the closure device,driving a planetary gearset with the spool, locking any two of a sungear, a ring gear, and planet carrier with a clutch, and releasing theclutch automatically when clutch torque reaches a breakdown value. Theautomatically sensing torque and changing a gear ratio may also compriseunwinding a filament from a spool of the automatic transmitting deviceby the withdrawing of the closure device, driving a planetary gearsetwith the spool, driving a tamping tube linearly with the planetarygearset, locking together a ring gear and planet carrier with a firstclutch, releasing the ring gear from the planet carrier with the firstclutch when clutch torque reaches a breakdown value, and fixing a sungear with a second one-way clutch. The method may comprise automaticallytransducing a motive force generated by the at least partiallywithdrawing the closure device in a first direction into a tamping forceon the sealing plug in a second direction via a planetary gearset.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a tissue puncture closuredevice for partial insertion into and sealing of an internal tissue wallpuncture comprising a filament extending from a first end of the closuredevice to a second end of the closure device, an anchor for insertionthrough the tissue wall puncture attached to the filament at the secondend of the closure device, a sealing plug slidingly attached to thefilament adjacent to the anchor, a tamping device adjacent to thesealing plug, and an automatic, two speed planetary transmission drivenby the filament and operatively connected to the tamping device foradvancing the tamping device toward the sealing plug. The automatic, twospeed planetary transmission may switch between first and second speedsautomatically depending on torque applied to the transmission.

Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows or may be learned by thoseskilled in the art through reading these materials or practicing theinvention. The advantages of the invention may be achieved through themeans recited in the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the presentinvention and are a part of the specification. The illustratedembodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do notlimit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial cut-away view of a tissue closure device accordingto the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tissue closure device of FIG. 1 engagedwith an artery according to the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tissue closure device of FIG. 1 beingwithdrawn from an artery according to the prior art to deploy a collagensponge.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tissue closure device of FIG. 1illustrating tamping of the collagen sponge according to the prior art.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a tissue closure device with an automatictorque sensing tamping or driving mechanism shown engaged with an arteryaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial assembly view of one embodiment of the torquesensing driving mechanism of FIG. 5 according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another partial assembly view of one embodiment of the torquesensing driving mechanism of FIG. 6, with a portion of a planet carrierremoved for clarity.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar,but not necessarily identical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned above, vascular procedures are conducted throughout theworld and require access to an artery through a puncture. Most often,the artery is a femoral artery. To close the puncture followingcompletion of the procedure, many times a closure device is used tosandwich the puncture between an anchor and a sealing plug. However,sometimes the sealing plug is not properly seated against an exteriorsitus of the arteriotomy. If the plug does not seat against thearteriotomy, there is a potential for elongated bleeding. The presentinvention describes methods and apparatus to reduce or eliminatemovement or misplacement of the sealing plug with a compact device.While the vascular instruments shown and described below includeinsertion sheaths and puncture sealing devices, the application ofprinciples described herein are not limited to the specific devicesshown. The principles described herein may be used with any vascularclosure device. Therefore, while the description below is directedprimarily to arterial procedures and certain embodiments of a vascularclosure device, the methods and apparatus are only limited by theappended claims.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “tamp”or “tamping” is used broadly to mean packing down by one or a successionof blows or taps, but not by excessive force. A “tamping tube” is usedbroadly to mean any elongated device or series of devices, including anyintermediate components, used alone or in combination to tamp somethingelse directly or indirectly. “Engage” and “engageable” are also usedbroadly to mean interlock, mesh, or contact between two devices. “Mesh”means to interlock or contact. A “spool” is a cylinder or other deviceon which something else is at least partially wound. A “lumen” refers toany open space or cavity in a bodily organ or device, especially in ablood vessel. “Automatic” means no action or intervention is required bya human operator. “Transduce” means to convert a force or other inputenergy in one form into output energy or forces of another form ordirection. The words “including” and “having,” as used in thespecification, including the claims, have the same meaning as the word“comprising.”

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, avascular puncture closure device 100 is shown according to the priorart. The vascular puncture closure device 100 includes a carrier tube102 with a filament or suture 104 extending at least partiallytherethrough. The closure device 100 also includes a first or proximalend 106 and a second or distal end 107. External to a second or distalend 107 of the carrier tube 102 is an anchor 108. The anchor is anelongated, stiff, low profile member including an eye 109 formed at themiddle. The anchor 108 is typically made of a biologically resorbablepolymer.

The suture 104 is threaded through the anchor 108 and back to a collagenpad 110. The collagen pad 110 may be comprised of randomly orientedfibrous material bound together by chemical means. The collagen pad 110is slidingly attached to the suture 104 as the suture passes distallythrough the carrier tube 102, but as the suture traverses the anchor 108and reenters the carrier tube 102, it is securely slip knotted proximalto the collagen pad 110 to facilitate cinching of the collagen pad 110when the closure device 100 is properly placed and the anchor 108deployed (see FIG. 4). The carrier tube 102 typically includes a tampingtube 112 disposed therein. The tamping tube 112 is slidingly mounted onthe suture 104 and may be used by an operator to tamp the collagen pad110 toward the anchor 108 at an appropriate time to seal a percutaneoustissue puncture.

Prior to deployment of the anchor 108 within an artery, the eye 109 ofthe anchor 108 rests outside the distal end 107 of the carrier tube 102.The anchor 108 may be temporarily held in place flush with the carriertube 102 by a bypass tube 114 disposed over the distal end 107 of thecarrier tube 102.

The flush arrangement of the anchor 108 and carrier tube 102 allows theanchor 108 to be inserted into an insertion sheath 116 as shown in FIGS.2-4, and eventually through an arterial puncture 118. The insertionsheath 116 is shown in FIGS. 2-4 inserted through a percutaneousincision 119 and into an artery 128. However, the bypass tube 114(FIG. 1) includes an oversized head 120 that prevents the bypass tube114 from passing through an internal passage of the insertion sheath116. Therefore, as the puncture closure device 100 is inserted into theinsertion sheath 116, the oversized head 120 bears against a surface 122of insertion sheath 116. Further insertion of the puncture closuredevice 100 results in sliding movement between the carrier tube 102(FIG. 1) and the bypass tube 114, releasing the anchor 108 from thebypass tube 114 (FIG. 1). However, the anchor 108 remains in the flusharrangement shown in FIG. 1 following release from the bypass tube 114,limited in movement by the insertion sheath 116.

The insertion sheath 116 includes a monofold 124 at a second or distalend 126 thereof. The monofold 124 acts as a one-way valve to the anchor108. The monofold 124 is a plastic deformation in a portion of theinsertion sheath 116 that elastically flexes as the anchor 108 is pushedout through the distal end 126 thereof. Typically, after the anchor 108passes through the distal end 126 of the insertion sheath 116 and entersthe artery 128, the anchor 108 is no longer constrained to the flusharrangement with respect to the carrier tube 102 and it deploys androtates to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Referring next to FIGS. 3-4, with the anchor 108 deployed, the punctureclosure device 100 and the insertion sheath 116 are withdrawn together,forcing the collagen pad 110 through the tip of the carrier tube 102 anddepositing it in the incision tract 119. The tamping tube 112 is alsoexposed. With the tamping tube 112 fully exposed as shown in FIG. 4, thecollagen pad 110 is manually tamped, and the anchor 108 and collagen pad110 are cinched together and held in place with the self-tighteningslip-knot on the suture 102. Thus, the tissue puncture is sandwichedbetween the anchor 108 and the collagen pad 110, thereby sealing thetissue puncture 118. The suture 104 is then cut and the incision tract119 may be closed. The suture 104, anchor 108, and collagen pad 110 aregenerally made of resorbable materials and therefore remain in placewhile the puncture 118 heals.

Using the typical tissue puncture closure device 100 described above,however, the tamping of the collagen pad 110 cannot commence until thesheath 116 has been removed so as to expose the tamping tube 112 formanual grasping. Under certain conditions, removal of the sheath 116prior to tamping the collagen pad 110 causes the collagen pad 110 toretract from the tissue puncture 118, creating a gap 120 between thecollagen pad 110 and the puncture 118. The gap 120 may remain even aftertamping as shown in FIG. 4, and sometimes results in only a partial sealand bleeding from the tissue puncture 118.

Therefore, the present specification describes a tissue puncture closuredevice that automatically drives a sealing plug toward a tissue punctureupon withdrawal of the tissue puncture closure device from the tissuepuncture site. The mechanism for automatically driving the sealing plugalso includes a transmission that changes gear ratio automatically inresponse to change in torque. While the preferred embodiments of thetissue puncture closure device are shown and described below, theprinciples of the present specification may be incorporated into any ofa number of tissue puncture closure devices. The specific embodimentsdescribed below are for illustrative purposes only, and are notlimiting.

As described above, the general structure and function of tissuepuncture closure devices used for sealing a tissue puncture in aninternal tissue wall accessible through an incision in the skin are wellknown in the art. Applications of closure devices including thoseimplementing principles described herein include closure of apercutaneous puncture or incision in tissue separating two internalportions of a living body, such as punctures or incisions in bloodvessels, ducts or lumens, gall bladders, livers, hearts, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a tissue puncture closure device 200 is shownaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. The closure device200 has particular utility when used in connection with intravascularprocedures, such as angiographic dye injection, cardiac catheterization,balloon angioplasty and other types of recanalizing of atheroscleroticarteries, etc. as the closure device 200 is designed to cause immediatehemostasis of the blood vessel (e.g., arterial) puncture. However, itwill be understood that while the description of the preferredembodiments below are directed to the sealing off of percutaneouspunctures in arteries, such devices have much more wide-spreadapplications and can be used for sealing punctures or incisions in othertypes of tissue walls as well. Thus, the sealing of a percutaneouspuncture in an artery, shown herein, is merely illustrative of oneparticular use of the tissue closure device 200 of the presentinvention.

The tissue closure device 200 includes a first or proximal end 206 and asecond or distal end 207. A carrier tube 202 extends from the proximalend 206 to the distal end 207 and includes an outlet 213 at the distalend 207. The carrier tube 202 may be made of plastic or other materialand is designed for insertion through a sheath 216, which is designedfor insertion through a percutaneous incision 219 in a tissue layer 230and into a lumen 232. According to FIG. 5, the lumen 232 comprises aninterior portion of a femoral artery 228.

At the distal end 207 of the carrier tube 202 there is an anchor 208 anda sealing plug 210. The anchor 208 of the present embodiment is anelongated, stiff, low profile member arranged to be seated inside theartery 228 against an artery wall 234 contiguous with a puncture 218.The anchor 208 is preferably made of a biologically resorbable polymer.The sealing plug 210 is formed of a compressible sponge, foam, orfibrous mat made of a non-hemostatic biologically resorbable materialsuch as collagen, and may be configured in any shape so as to facilitatesealing the tissue puncture 218.

The sealing plug 210 and anchor 208 are connected to one another by afilament or suture 204 that is also biologically resorbable. The anchor208, the sealing plug 210, and the suture 204 are collectively referredto as the “closure elements” below. As shown in FIG. 5, the anchor 208is arranged adjacent to and exterior of the distal end 207 of the sheath216, while the sealing plug 210 is initially disposed within carriertube 202. Although the anchor 208 is shown deployed with a first surface236 abutting the artery wall 234, it will be understood that initiallythe anchor is arranged axially along the carrier tube 202 to facilitateinsertion into the lumen 232 (see, for example, the anchor 108 of FIG.1). The suture 204 extends distally from the first end 206 of theclosure device 200 through the carrier tube 202. The suture 204 may bethreaded through one or more perforations in the sealing plug 210,through a hole in the anchor 208, and proximally back toward the carriertube 202 to the sealing plug 210. The suture 204 is preferably threadedagain through a perforation or series of perforations in the sealingplug 210. The suture 204 may also be threaded around itself to form aself-tightening slip-knot. The suture 204 may thus connect the anchor208 and the sealing plug 210 in a pulley-like arrangement to cinch theanchor 208 and the sealing plug 210 together when the carrier tube 202is pulled away from the anchor 208 and the sealing plug 210, sandwichingand locking the anchor 208 and plug 210 together and thereby sealing thetissue puncture 218.

The carrier tube 202 houses a tamping device, such as a tamping tube212, for advancing the sealing plug 210 along the suture 204 and againstthe anchor 208. The tamping tube 212 is shown located within the carriertube 202 and proximal of the sealing plug 208. The tamping tube 212 ispreferably an elongated tubular member that may be rigid or flexible andformed of any suitable material. For example, according to oneembodiment the tamping tube 212 is made of polyurethane. The suture 204extends through or in a trough of the tamping tube 212, but is notdirectly connected thereto. Accordingly, the suture 204 and tamping tube212 are free to slide past one another. According to the embodiment ofFIG. 5, as the suture 204 extends beyond a proximal end of the tampingtube 212 and attaches to a tamping assembly 238, which includes thetamping tube 212, but the remainder of which is located within a housingor handle 252 at the first end 206 of the closure device 200.Embodiments of the automatic tamping assembly 238 are described in moredetail below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The tamping tube 212 automatically pushes the sealing plug 210 throughthe outlet 213 of the carrier tube 202 upon retraction of the closuredevice 200 from the incision 219 when the anchor 208 is deployed asshown in FIG. 5. The tamping tube 212 or other tamping device maycomprise a rack partially housed in the handle 252 and receptive of geartines (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). Alternatively, the tamping tube 212 mayalign with a separate tamping driver rack, which would then advance thetamping tube 212.

In practice, the carrier tube 202 of the closure device 200 (containingthe closure elements described above) is inserted into the insertionsheath 216, which is already inserted within the artery 228. As theclosure device 200 and the associated closure elements are inserted intothe insertion sheath 216, the anchor 208 passes through and out of thedistal end of the insertion sheath 216 and is inserted into the arterylumen 232. As mentioned above, the anchor 208 is initially arrangedsubstantially parallel with the carrier tube 202 to facilitate insertionof the anchor 208 through the percutaneous incision 219 and into thelumen 232.

The closure device 200 is then withdrawn from the insertion sheath 216until the anchor 208 catches on the distal end of the insertion sheath216 and rotates to the position shown in FIG. 5. When resistance tofurther retraction of the closure device 200 is felt by an operator, theclosure device 200 and the insertion sheath 216 are withdrawn together,causing the anchor 208 to anchor itself within the artery 228 againstthe artery wall 234. With the anchor 208 anchored within the artery 228at the puncture site 218, further retraction of the closure device 200and insertion sheath 216 forces the sealing plug 210 out through theoutlet 213 in the carrier tube 202, thereby depositing the plug 210within the incision or puncture tract 219.

However, unlike previous closure devices that require a separate, manualtamping procedure to deposit the sealing plug 210, the closure device200 of the present invention automatically forces the sealing plug 210out of the carrier tube 202 and tamps it toward the anchor 208. Theclosure device 200 drives the tamping tube 212 toward the sealing plug210 automatically upon withdrawal of the closure device 200 from thepuncture tract 219, pushing the sealing plug out of the carrier tube 202and tamping the plug 210 toward the anchor 208. Therefore, the sealingplug 210 is tamped while the carrier tube 202 is still arranged adjacentto the puncture 218 in the femoral artery 228, reducing or eliminatingany gaps that may otherwise occur between the sealing plug 210 and thepuncture 218 in the femoral artery 228.

In addition, by placing tension on or pulling the suture 204 away fromthe puncture tract 219, the suture 204 may cinch and lock (with a slipknot or the like) together the anchor 208 and the sealing plug 210,sandwiching the artery wall 234 between the anchor 208 and sealing plug210. The force exerted by the tamping tube 212 and the cinching togetherof the anchor 208 and sealing plug 210 by the filament 204 also causesthe sealing plug 210 to deform radially outward within the puncturetract 219 and function as an anchor on the proximal side of the tissuepuncture site 218.

However, as the sealing plug 210 is pushed through the outlet 213 of thecarrier tube 202, a variable force and various amounts of torque fromthe automatic tamping assembly 238 may be required. Therefore, theautomatic tamping assembly 238 includes an automatic transmission thatchanges gear ratio in response to sensed changes in torque required toadvance the sealing plug 210 out of the carrier tube 202 and toward theanchor 208.

Automatically driving the tamping tube 212 toward the sealing plug 210and/or cinching the plug and the anchor 208 may be facilitated by any ofa number of mechanisms. For example, one automatic gear ratio changingtransmission 240 that may be disposed in the housing 252 of the closuredevice 200 is shown in FIG. 6. The automatic gear ratio changingtransmission 240 is part of the automatic tamping assembly 238. Theautomatic gear ratio changing transmission 240 may be a torque sensing,torque multiplying transmission as described below with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7. The automatic gear ration changing transmission 240 maycomprise at least two speeds.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 6, retraction of the closure device200 automatically effects tamping of the sealing plug 208 (FIG. 5). Theretraction or motive force in a first direction is automaticallytransduced, according to FIG. 6, by the automatic tamping assembly 238to a tamping force in a second direction. The details of transducing theretraction force to a tamping force are described below.

According to the automatic tamping assembly 238 of FIG. 6, the gearratio changing transmission 240 includes a planetary gearset 244. Theplanetary gearset 244 is driven by an input gear 246 coupled to orengaged with the planetary gearset 244. The suture 204 is connected toand/or partially wound about a spool 248 that is coaxially attached tothe input gear 246. Because the spool 248 is attached coaxially to theinput gear 246, they rotate together at the same angular velocity.However, there may be a torque limiting clutch between the input gear246 and the spool 248, such as mating fan surfaces.

Withdrawal of the closure device 200 (FIG. 5) from the tissue puncturesite (if the anchor 208 (FIG. 5) is deployed) causes the suture 204 tounwind from the spool 248. The spool 248 rotates as the suture 204unwinds and provides a torsional motive force that may be transduced toa linear tamping force.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7, the torsional motive forceprovided by the unwinding spool 248 is transduced into the lineartamping by the planetary gearset 244 and an output gear 250 engaged withthe planetary gearset 244. The planetary gearset 244 includes a ringgear 254, a sun gear 256, a planet carrier (not separately shown), andat least two planet gears 260. The planet carrier, according to FIGS.6-7, comprises first and second gear plates 261, 263 sandwiching thering gear 254. The top plate 261 of the planet carrier is removed inFIG. 7 to facilitate identification of the sun gear 256 and the planetgears 260. Fasteners such as screws 262 may extend through the planetgears 260 and attach the plates 261, 263 comprising the planet carrier.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7, the input gear 246 is meshedwith the ring gear 254, and the output gear 250 is meshed with theplanet carrier. However, any other input/output arrangement using aplanetary gearset may also be used. In addition, a first clutch 264 mayfix two or more of the ring gear 254, sun gear 256, and planet carrierwith respect to one another. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6-7, thefirst clutch 264 locks the ring gear 254 to the planet carrier. Thefirst clutch 264 may comprise first and second preset spring-loadedplates 266, 268 that partially overlap and sandwich outercircumferential portions of the ring gear 254 and the planet carrier.The first clutch 264 thus holds the ring gear 254 and the planet carriertogether in low torque situations, causing the ring gear 254 and theplanet carrier to rotate together at the same angular velocity. The sungear 256 rotates freely when the ring gear 254 is fixed to the planetcarrier according to the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7. Thus, in low torquesituations, the planetary gearset 244 acts as a single gear.

However, the first clutch 264 has a predetermined torque breakdownvalue. Accordingly, when torque applied to the ring gear 254 exceeds thepredetermined torque breakdown value, the spring force of the firstclutch 264 is overcome and the ring gear 254 slips with respect to theplanet carrier. Thus, the first clutch 264 provides an automaticmechanical torque sensor. In addition, the sun gear 256 may include asecond clutch, preferably a one-way axle mount clutch 270. Therefore,when the first clutch 264 releases (“release” includes a partial releasewherein the ring gear 254 and the planet carrier slip but do not rotatefreely with respect to one another, as well as free rotation), the sungear 256 locks, and the planetary gearset 244 automatically changes gearratio from a first speed to at least a second speed, multiplies torqueapplied by the input gear 246, and transmits the torque to the outputgear 250. The greater the torque, the more the ring gear 254 slips androtates relative to the planet carrier. Thus, when increased torque isrequired, for example, to force the sealing plug through the outlet 213(FIG. 5) of the carrier tube 202 (FIG. 5), the first clutch 264automatically releases and the gear ratio changes to provide additionaltorque. As torque decreases, the first clutch 264 reengages and returnsthe gear ratio to the first speed. According to some embodiments, theplanetary gearset 240 provides a torque ratio between 1:1 and 1:4,preferably between about 1:1 and 1:2, upon reaching the predeterminedtorque breakdown value of the clutch.

According to the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7, the output gear 250 is engagedor meshed with the tamping tube 212, and the tamping tube 212 is drivenlinearly to distally advance and tamp the sealing plug 210 (FIG. 5).Therefore, the gears and the tamping tube 212 include mating gear teeth.

Although the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7 include an input gear 246 and anoutput gear 250 meshed with the planetary gearset 244, alternativeembodiments may not include one or both of the input gear 246 and outputgear 250. Accordingly, a spool may be directly connected to theplanetary gearset 244, and one of the components of the planetarygearset 244 may be an output. Therefore, the planetary gearset 244 isoperatively connected, directly or indirectly, to the tamping tube 212or other tamping device whether or not input/output gears 246, 250 areincluded.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure that the automatic tamping assembly 238 of FIGS. 6-7with the planetary gearset 244 is exemplary in nature, and not limiting.Any tamping assembly that automatically changes gear ratio in responseto torque requirements may be used to transmit a motive force generatedby retraction of the suture 204 from the closure device 200 (FIG. 5)into a driving force for the sealing plug 210 (FIG. 5).

Operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 is as follows. As the closingdevice 200 is retracted from the puncture tract 219, the suture 204,which is threaded through the anchor 208, unwinds from and causesrotation of the spool 248. The spool 248 drives the input gear 246 as itrotates via the coaxial connection therebetween. As the input gear 246rotates, it drives the planetary gearset 244, specifically the ring gear254. The ring gear 254 is initially fixed to the planet carrier (gearplates 261/263) by the first clutch 264, and the sun gear 256 rotatesfreely. As long as torque produced by unwinding the suture 204 from thespool 248 remains under a predetermined value, the ring gear 254 and theplanet carrier remain fixed with respect to one another. The planetcarrier meshes with the output gear 250, and the output gear meshes withthe tamping tube 212. The tamping tube 212 is driven distally to forcethe sealing plug 210 (FIG. 5) out of the carrier tube 202 (FIG. 5) andto tamp the sealing plug 210 (FIG. 5) toward the anchor 208 (FIG. 5).

However, if torque reaches a clutch breakdown value, the first clutch264 at least partially releases the ring gear 254 from the planetcarrier automatically. A second one-way clutch 270 may also lock the sungear 256. Consequently, the ring gear 254 rotates relative to the planetcarrier, causing a change in gear ratio between the input gear 246 andthe output gear 250 and an additional mechanical advantage for tampingthe sealing plug 210 (FIG. 5). If torque falls back below the clutchbreakdown value, the first clutch 264 automatically fixes the ring gear254 relative to the planet carrier once again. Therefore, as the closingdevice 200 is retracted from the puncture tract 219, the sealing plug210 (FIG. 5) is automatically forced out of the carrier tube 202 andtamped via the automatic transmission 240 and tamping tube 212. The sealplug 210 (FIG. 5) is more likely to create a sufficient arterial sealwithout gaps between the sealing plug 210 (FIG. 5) and the anchor 208(FIG. 5), as may otherwise occur with a separate manual tampingprocedure. The suture 204 is ultimately cut, and the closure elementsare left at the puncture site while the remainder of the closure device200 (FIG. 5) is removed.

The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate anddescribe exemplary embodiments of invention. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tissue puncture closure device, comprising: afilament extending from a first end of the closure device to a secondend of the closure device; an anchor attached to the filament at thesecond end of the closure device, the anchor being insertable through atissue puncture; a sealing plug slidingly attached to the filament at alocation proximal of the anchor; a tamping assembly operable to compactthe sealing plug toward the anchor, the tamping assembly comprising atamping tube and an automatic transmission, the automatic transmissioncomprising an input gear arranged coaxially with a filament spool, anoutput gear arranged in contact with the tamping tube, and a pluralityof intermediate gears operable between the input and output gears, theautomatic transmission being operable to automatically change a gearratio between the input and output gears for achieving at least twodifferent, non-zero speeds for advancing the tamping tube toward thesealing plug.
 2. The tissue puncture closure device of claim 1, whereinan axis of rotation of the input, output and plurality of intermediategears are arranged parallel with each other.
 3. The tissue punctureclosure device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of intermediate gearscomprise a planetary gearset.
 4. The tissue puncture closure device ofclaim 3, wherein the planetary gearset includes a plurality of clutches.5. The tissue puncture closure device of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof intermediate gears comprise a planetary gearset coupled to the inputgear and the output gear.
 6. The tissue puncture closure device of claim1, wherein the plurality of intermediate gears comprise a planetarygearset comprising a ring gear, a sun gear, at least two planet gears,and a planet carrier, wherein the input gear meshes with the ring gear,and the output gear meshes with the planet carrier and the tamping tube.7. The tissue puncture closure device of claim 1, wherein the automatictransmission is operable to automatically change a gear ratio betweenthe input and output gears for achieving an additional mechanicaladvantage when the torque exceeds a clutch breakdown value and forachieving a decreased mechanical advantage when the torque falls belowthe clutch breakdown value.
 8. The tissue puncture closure device ofclaim 1, wherein the filament spool is connected to the input gear androtation of the filament spool upon applying a withdrawal force to thetissue puncture closure device rotates the input gear.
 9. A tissuepuncture closure device, comprising: a filament extending from a firstend of the closure device to a second end of the closure device; ananchor attached to the filament at the second end of the closure deviceand positionable through a tissue puncture; a sealing plug slidinglyattached to the filament and arranged adjacent to the anchor; a tampingassembly operable to compact the sealing plug toward the anchor, thetamping assembly comprising a tamping tube and an automatictransmission, the automatic transmission comprising a filament spoolabout which a portion of the filament is wound, a planetary gearset, aninput gear arranged coaxial with the filament spool, and an output geararranged in contact with the tamping tube, the planetary gearsetautomatically switching upon application of a withdrawal force to thetissue puncture closure device between a low torque setting in which theplanetary gearset operates as a single gear providing a first gear ratiobetween the input and output gears, and a high torque setting in whichthe planetary gearset operates as a plurality of gears providing asecond gear ratio between the input and output gears.
 10. The tissuepuncture closure device of claim 9, wherein an axis of rotation of gearsof the planetary gearset are arranged parallel with an axis of rotationof the filament spool.
 11. The tissue puncture closure device of claim9, wherein the planetary gearset includes a sun gear, a ring gear, aplurality of planet gears, and a planet gear carrier.
 12. The tissuepuncture closure device of claim 9, wherein the planetary gearset iscoupled to the input gear and the output gear.
 13. The tissue punctureclosure device of claim 9, wherein the input gear engages the ring gearand the output gear engages the planet carrier and the tamping tube. 14.The tissue puncture closure device of claim 9, wherein planetary gearsetincludes a clutch and is operable to automatically change achieve anadditional mechanical advantage when the torque exceeds a breakdownvalue of the clutch to increase a force applied to the sealing plug bythe tamping tube, and automatically decrease a mechanical advantage whenthe torque falls below the breakdown value.
 15. A tissue punctureclosure device, comprising: a filament extending from a first end of theclosure device to a second end of the closure device; an anchor attachedto the filament at the second end of the closure device and positionablethrough a tissue puncture; a sealing plug slidingly attached to thefilament and arranged adjacent to the anchor; a tamping assemblyoperable to compact the sealing plug toward the anchor, the tampingassembly comprising a tamping tube and an automatic transmission, theautomatic transmission comprising a filament spool about which a portionof the filament is wound, an input gear coupled to the filament spool,an output gear coupled to the tamping tube, and a planetary gearset, theplanetary gearset being operable to automatically change a gear ratiofrom a first non-zero speed to at least a second non-zero speed,multiply torque received from the input gear, and transmit themultiplied torque to the output gear upon applying a withdrawal force tothe tissue puncture closure device.
 16. The tissue puncture closuredevice of claim 15, wherein the planetary gearset is connected directlyto the input gear and the output gear.
 17. The tissue puncture closuredevice of claim 15, wherein the planetary gearset comprising a ringgear, a sun gear, at least two planet gears, and a planet carrier, theinput gear being coaxially attached to the filament spool, the inputgear engaging the ring gear, and the output gear engaging the planetcarrier and the tamping tube.
 18. The tissue puncture closure device ofclaim 15, wherein the planetary gearset includes first and secondclutches.
 19. The tissue puncture closure device according to claim 15,wherein the planetary gearset includes a clutch and is operable toautomatically change a gear ratio between the input and output gears forachieving an additional mechanical advantage when the torque exceeds abreakdown value of the clutch to increase a force applied to the sealingplug by the tamping tube.
 20. The tissue puncture closure device ofclaim 19, wherein the planetary gearset is operable to automaticallydecrease a mechanical advantage when the torque falls below thebreakdown value.